One holiday, several ways

Each Christmas morning, for the past five or so years, everyone in my family has dressed in the same outfits. My parents, sister and I have identical burgundy sweat pants (complete with a black stripe down each leg), which we pair with black tops. Well, my dad wears navy because he doesn’t have a black shirt. But from a distance, the deep blue can totally play black.

This is our quirky Gustafson family tradition, and sharing it ignited conversation on On The Edge, about things other families do to celebrate the holiday.

Below are several of our favorites.

“Santa” would always show up on Christmas Eve morning with a Christmas movie in the fireplace and then, while we were out on Christmas Eve night, he’d drop off our pajamas (matching and totally embarrassing). The tradition continues (my sisters and I are 34, 29, 26 and 23) and in the morning we still wait at the top of the stairs and race each other down. — Allison L

My father and I would give the dog a bath before we opened presents X-mas morning. Our dogs always hated baths, so I would have to restrain them in the bathtub while he washes them. It started one year when we were waiting for my brother to wake up and we noticed the dog needed a bath. We have been doing it for many years (and many dogs) who try to get away when we tell them it’s time for their Christmas bath! The humans need not bathe prior to opening gifts, however. — molly

Each year the first gift I open is a book from my Mom. She always writes something on the inside cover to make me cry, but the best part is she picks the best, most meaningful books. — Amanda

We host an annual Christmas Eve dinner party for anywhere from 8-16 people. After everyone has been wined and dined and the children have passed out, we clear the table and force our guests to assist with wrapping and assembling the gifts. Generally, all goes well although we sometimes end up with extra parts to the more elaborate “some assembly required” toys. — slilly

My family and I would watch “A Christmas Story,” put a puzzle together and then order Chinese. We’re Jewish. –julie

My mom and dad always wrote cryptic gifts tags, no “To: Christine, From: Mom and Dad” for them. The messages gave a hint to what was inside. Last year my favorite gift had a tag that read “Why wait?”, which I didn’t understand until I opened a set of antique Nippon bowls that I always referred to as the applesauce dishes since that was what they were always used for. Mom and Dad knew how much I loved them and gave them to me while they were still alive, hence the “why wait?” — Christine V

In my family we never left cookies and milk for Santa. Instead, we left cookies and brandy, because it ‘was cold out, and Santa had to keep warm somehow,’ according to Mom and Dad. Now I know it’s just cause they’re a couple of booze-hounds, but back then I thought every kid left out brandy for Santa. — kriskaten

My husband and I decided no matter how busy or what mood (Christmas or Grinch) we are in, we will always buy a real Christmas tree. When he was a kid, they had the silver one that you couldn’t put lights on, so it had a red, green and blue spotlight. He hated that tree, and even though it’s just two of us now, we will always have a real tree. — Maureen

Every year when we decorated the tree we never put the star on top. We were told when Santa came on Christmas Eve, it was his job. Sure enough, every Christmas morning, there was the star on top of the tree. It is still my favorite Christmas tradition (even though all four kids are way beyond “believing” and I am usually “Santa” now). — Lisa Pelton

Growing up, my children each had their own box to keep their ornaments in. Every year I added to “the list” in each box — where the ornament came from, how much it cost and where it was purchased (if it was not a gift, otherwise who gave it to them) and any story that should accompany the ornament, such as why it was significant at the time, or how the child carried the ornament everywhere with them during the season. When they had their own place and tree, the box of ornaments and memories went with them. — georgia

We used to cover my grandmother with bows from the presents. This started one year after my grandmother began sipping her second bourbon and bitter lemon cocktail. She placed the initial bow on her own head, and her three grandchildren kept giving more bows to her. Every year, we took a picture of her, covered in bows, drink in hand, and she was usually making a silly face, too. Now we get out a picture or two of her like this, just to remember the fun. — jsg

We make sure everyone gets at least one toy, no matter how old they are. — Judy

We couldn’t get out of bed before 7 a.m. I’m sure Santa was not a night owl and did his deed at 6 a.m. when I could smell the coffee brewing. — Lou

We go look at lights on Christmas Eve and every year I have my father read “‘Twas the Night Before Christmas.” I still have the book he gave me in 1976. — Sarah

I lived in an apartment (i.e.: no fireplace) so I asked how Santa got in and out to deliver presents. I was told that he had master keys for all the houses in the world. Years later I realized Santa sounded like a small-time thief. — Sean

My Nana started a family tradition of having an angel food cake every Christmas for dessert, as a birthday cake for the baby Jesus. We’d have candles and sing “Happy Birthday, Dear Jesus” and have the cake and ice cream. It was her special way of reminding us all what Christmas was all about. — Mommyof2

At my cousins’ house, they always left cookies and milk for Santa and a raw potato with salt for Rudolph. Apparently, Rudolph shared my uncle’s affinity for raw taters. — kerosena

Going to midnight Mass with a dear friend or family member. Something about all the quietness late at night, the glowing candlelight in the church and seeing all the sleepy-eyed children resting on their parents shoulders really made it special for me. — Gigi

Christmas morning is the one time a year my dad makes breakfast. It’s always French toast, made with white, old-fashioned bread and a sprinkle of powdered sugar on top. When we were kids, he would even cut it into bite-size squares for us. — Moe

When I was a youngster, our family always spent Christmas at my favorite aunt and uncle’s house. Every year, my uncle would get a new article of clothing, usually a shirt or sweater. He would immediately put it on without removing any of the tags and proceed to wear it all day with the tags showing. My aunt would get so frustrated at him for not removing the tags, but he insisted on wearing it with the tags, so everyone would know it was new and a Christmas present. — Bill W.

Every Christmas Eve since I was young, my siblings and I have written a note to Santa thanking him for all the gifts and wishing him well on the rest of his journey. We leave the note with a plate of cookies, a glass of milk and a few carrots and apples for the reindeer. This started when my sister and brother were young and, even though they are now 17 and 12, they still make sure there is a note and goodies by the fireplace — and my parents still make sure there is a very cute note back from Santa and the cookies have a few bites missing and carrots are gone. Little things like this still keep that magical feeling of early Christmas morning alive. — Liz